2-25-26 EDC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – FEBRUARY 25, 2026 3 Senior Planner Fransen provided a handout that outlines the EDC objective of being the bridge between Arden Hills businesses and the City of Arden Hills. She called out goals that will help us achieve this objective. Senior Planner Fransen said the first one is the EDC connects with businesses to understand their needs. The second is the EDC leverages the City’s operations such as website, newsletter and the business licensing process, to support Arden Hills businesses with their needs. Senior Planner Fransen outlined some strategies related to the goal of connection and communication. Conversation has been had regarding a quarterly business meeting. The Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce does quarterly meetings that EDC can connect with. That is an opportunity for EDC to be promoting unique things in Arden Hills. Other initiatives include sponsorships, State of the City and The 75th Anniversary Celebration. With any initiative we need to ask what the EDC’s role is and look for ways the EDC can leverage the processes that already exist to enhance communication with businesses. The draft plan does not establish a quarterly event, but that can be added, if we move forward with that. Senior Planner Fransen outlined next steps to discuss what revisions or priorities the EDC would like to see. Chair Murchie likes the objectives being laid out so we can agree to those. As we move into the activities, we can talk about how to prioritize them. Commissioner Bonine said the first section regarding connection and community, has four suggested topics. They are all opportunities for businesses to engage with the City and promote themselves. He thinks it’s a smart way to engage. It’s measurable and meaningful. He thinks piggy backing on the Chamber is a good alignment. Commissioner Poelzer said she leans on the business members in the EDC for their thoughts and opinions on how EDC can be the bridge between the City and Arden Hills businesses. She can help as a resident member, but she doesn’t have the business owners’ perspective. She thinks the business owners’ input will be important for this Work Plan. Commissioner Bonine said the topics are great. The challenge is how to communicate it. He said the website and the newsletter are a good place to start. Chair Murchie likes how it’s laid out. The overall objectives make a lot of sense. He said we can refine it in the future, if needed. Commissioner Bonine said there is value in these objectives. We need to have a mechanism to get that info. Council Liaison Rousseau said the Chamber meetings sometimes conflict with EDC meetings. She said we would want to be aware of that. Senior Planner Fransen did plug the Chamber events into the EDC calendar. Staff will make sure that the meetings don’t conflict. Community Development Director Reilly said we can discuss replacing this meeting for that one, on certain months.